FEMA giving small Ala. town $840K to aid storm recovery

By Jay ReevesThe Associated Press

Published: Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 11, 2013 at 10:05 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM | Federal officials said they would provide an Alabama town with $840,000 to fund the long-delayed demolition of nearly its entire downtown, which was badly damaged in the 2011 tornado outbreak.

Danon Lucas, a spokesman with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the grant will cover 90 percent of the cost of demolishing what’s left of downtown Cordova, which was hit by two tornadoes in the April 27 onslaught.

It could still be weeks before work begins in the Walker County city of 2,100 people. City officials must obtain final bids and supply additional documentation for the work, initially estimated to cost around $1 million.

“This has been a long road for them, and we’re glad to see it get to this stage,” said Yasamie August, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, which will repay the city once work is performed.

Concerns over the historical significance of the damaged buildings resulted in delays in federal funding approval.

Located about 35 miles northwest of Birmingham, Cordova was founded in the 1880s at a spot where two railroad lines converged. Many of the old brick buildings in the downtown block were vacant when the tornadoes struck, causing major damage to the area.

A long-term plan initially recommended reclaiming downtown Cordova, but an in-depth examination revealed major structural problems, and city officials decided to demolish the entire block, which was damaged by fires after the storms.

The mix of privately and publicly owned buildings with shared walls and varying amounts of damage proved confusing, and federal officials required photographs and other historical documentation.

Today, the downtown district is surrounded by a locked chain-link fence that surrounds the skeletons of shattered buildings.

Mayor Drew Gilbert said the sight was a drag on the city as it attempted to recover.

Town officials said FEMA kept seeking more photos and documentation while other cities hit by tornados were already rebuilding, but the agency said it was only doing its job.

August said the state finally received money for the demolition work about a week ago.

Four people died in Cordova during the April 2011 storms, and tornadoes killed about 250 people statewide.

<p>BIRMINGHAM | Federal officials said they would provide an Alabama town with $840,000 to fund the long-delayed demolition of nearly its entire downtown, which was badly damaged in the 2011 tornado outbreak. </p><p>Danon Lucas, a spokesman with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the grant will cover 90 percent of the cost of demolishing what's left of downtown Cordova, which was hit by two tornadoes in the April 27 onslaught. </p><p>It could still be weeks before work begins in the Walker County city of 2,100 people. City officials must obtain final bids and supply additional documentation for the work, initially estimated to cost around $1 million. </p><p>“This has been a long road for them, and we're glad to see it get to this stage,” said Yasamie August, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, which will repay the city once work is performed. </p><p>Concerns over the historical significance of the damaged buildings resulted in delays in federal funding approval. </p><p>Located about 35 miles northwest of Birmingham, Cordova was founded in the 1880s at a spot where two railroad lines converged. Many of the old brick buildings in the downtown block were vacant when the tornadoes struck, causing major damage to the area. </p><p>A long-term plan initially recommended reclaiming downtown Cordova, but an in-depth examination revealed major structural problems, and city officials decided to demolish the entire block, which was damaged by fires after the storms. </p><p>The mix of privately and publicly owned buildings with shared walls and varying amounts of damage proved confusing, and federal officials required photographs and other historical documentation. </p><p>Today, the downtown district is surrounded by a locked chain-link fence that surrounds the skeletons of shattered buildings. </p><p>Mayor Drew Gilbert said the sight was a drag on the city as it attempted to recover. </p><p>Town officials said FEMA kept seeking more photos and documentation while other cities hit by tornados were already rebuilding, but the agency said it was only doing its job. </p><p>August said the state finally received money for the demolition work about a week ago. </p><p>Four people died in Cordova during the April 2011 storms, and tornadoes killed about 250 people statewide.</p>